Acquire vs. Purchase: Difference and Comparison
Edited by Muazma Batool — By Muneeza Rehman — Published on November 14, 2023
"Acquire" means to obtain or get possession of something, often over time, while "purchase" specifically refers to buying something in exchange for money or a set value.
Difference Between Acquire and Purchase
"Acquire" is a versatile term that encompasses the process of obtaining, gaining, or coming into possession of something. This acquisition might be the result of effort, experience, or circumstances. For instance, one can acquire skills, knowledge, or even property without necessarily buying it. Conversely, "purchase" is a more specific action that denotes the act of obtaining something by paying for it, typically with money. This word has a transactional undertone, implying a clear exchange.
Muazma Batool
Nov 14, 2023
While both "acquire" and "purchase" imply possession, "acquire" is broader and can involve both tangible and intangible items. For example, one might acquire a taste for certain foods or acquire proficiency in a language, neither of which involves a monetary transaction. "Purchase," however, is used in contexts where an actual transaction, most often monetary, has taken place. For instance, one can purchase a book, a car, or services.
Muneeza Rehman
Nov 14, 2023
In corporate lingo, "acquire" can also mean that one company is taking over another, either by buying it out or through other means. In this scenario, while a purchase might be involved, the term "acquire" gives more weight to the act of taking control. On the other hand, "purchase" in a business context often involves buying goods or services, highlighting the transactional nature of the act.
Muazma Batool
Nov 14, 2023
Interestingly, while "acquire" can have a passive connotation, as in acquiring knowledge over time, "purchase" is an active verb requiring a direct action. This distinction underscores the gradual nature of some acquisitions, contrasted with the immediacy and directness of purchases.
William
Nov 14, 2023
Lastly, "acquire" often does not disclose the means of acquisition. Something could be inherited, found, or gifted. "Purchase," however, makes the means clear: an exchange of value has taken place, typically in the form of payment.
Jonathan
Nov 14, 2023
Acquire vs. Purchase Comparison Chart
Basic Definition
To obtain or gain possession.
To buy something in exchange for money or value.
Muazma Batool
Nov 14, 2023
Tangibility
Can refer to tangible or intangible items.
Primarily refers to tangible items.
Muneeza Rehman
Nov 14, 2023
Monetary Exchange
Not necessarily involving money.
Always involves an exchange of value or money.
Muazma Batool
Nov 14, 2023
Usage
Can refer to skills, tastes, or possessions.
Primarily used for goods, services, and properties.
Jonathan
Nov 14, 2023
Acquire vs. Purchase Definitions
◉Purchase
To buy, obtaining in exchange for money.
He made a purchase at the store.
William
Sep 15, 2023
◉Acquire
To gain through experience or effort.
He acquired fluency in French.
Muazma Batool
Sep 15, 2023
◉Purchase
A legal means of obtaining property.
The estate was a good purchase.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 15, 2023
◉Purchase
To pull or haul with effort.
He found a good purchase on the rock while climbing.
William
Sep 15, 2023
◉Acquire
To take control of, especially in business contexts.
The company acquired a smaller startup.
Leo
Sep 15, 2023
◉Purchase
To acquire by effort; earn
purchased the victory with the loss of many lives.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
To pull or haul by means of a mechanical device, such as a winch.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Acquire
To gain through experience; come by
acquired a growing dislike of television sitcoms.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Acquire
To locate (a target) with an aiming device or a tracking system, such as radar.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
A hold or position that allows the application of power, as in moving something
got a purchase for her foot and climbed up.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Acquire
(transitive) To gain, usually by one's own exertions; to get as one's own
He acquired a title.
all the riches he acquired were from hard work.
One should acquire as much knowledge as possible from reading.
to acquire a skill
to acquire decent habits and manners
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
A means or advantage that allows the increase of power or influence.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Acquire
(computing) To sample signals and convert them into digital values.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
The acquisition of title to, or property in, anything for a price; buying for money or its equivalent.
They offer a free hamburger with the purchase of a drink.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Acquire
To gain, usually by one's own exertions; to get as one's own; as, to acquire a title, riches, knowledge, skill, good or bad habits.
No virtue is acquired in an instant, but step by step.
Descent is the title whereby a man, on the death of his ancestor, acquires his estate, by right of representation, as his heir at law.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
That which is obtained, got or acquired, in any manner, honestly or dishonestly; property; possession; acquisition.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Acquire
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract;
She got a lot of paintings from her uncle
They acquired a new pet
Get your results the next day
Get permission to take a few days off from work
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
That which is obtained for a price in money or its equivalent.
He was pleased with his latest purchase.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Acquire
take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect;
His voice took on a sad tone
The story took a new turn
he adopted an air of superiority
She assumed strange manners
The gods assume human or animal form in these fables
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
(obsolete) The act or process of seeking and obtaining something (e.g. property, etc.)
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Acquire
come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes);
He grew a beard
The patient developed abdominal pains
I got funny spots all over my body
Well-developed breasts
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
A price paid for a house or estate, etc. equal to the amount of the rent or income during the stated number of years.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Acquire
locate (a moving entity) by means of a tracking system such as radar
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
Any mechanical hold or advantage, applied to the raising or removing of heavy bodies, as by a lever, a tackle or capstan.
It is hard to get purchase on a nail without a pry bar or hammer.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Acquire
win something through one's efforts;
I acquired a passing knowledge of Chinese
Gain an understanding of international finance
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
The apparatus, tackle or device by which such mechanical advantage is gained and in nautical terminology the ratio of such a device, like a pulley, or block and tackle.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Acquire
acquire or gain knowledge or skills;
She learned dancing from her sister
I learned Sanskrit
Children acquire language at an amazing rate
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Acquire
gain through experience;
I acquired a strong aversion to television
Children must develop a sense of right and wrong
Dave developed leadership qualities in his new position
develop a passion for painting
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
Acquisition of lands or tenements by means other than descent or inheritance, namely, by one's own act or agreement.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
To buy, obtain by payment of a price in money or its equivalent.
to purchase land, to purchase a house
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
To pursue and obtain; to acquire by seeking; to gain, obtain, or acquire.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
To obtain by any outlay, as of labor, danger, or sacrifice, etc.
to purchase favor with flattery
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
To apply to (anything) a device for obtaining a mechanical advantage; to get a purchase upon, or apply a purchase to; to raise or move by mechanical means.
to purchase a cannon
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
To put forth effort to obtain anything; to strive; to exert oneself.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
To constitute the buying power for a purchase, have a trading value.
Many aristocratic refugees' portable treasures purchased their safe passage and comfortable exile during the revolution.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
To pursue and obtain; to acquire by seeking; to gain, obtain, or acquire.
That loves the thing he can not purchase.
Your accent is Something finer than you could purchase in so removed a dwelling.
His faults . . . hereditaryRather than purchased.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
To obtain by paying money or its equivalent; to buy for a price; as, to purchase land, or a house.
The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
To obtain by any outlay, as of labor, danger, or sacrifice, etc.; as, to purchase favor with flattery.
One poor retiring minute . . . Would purchase thee a thousand thousand friends.
A world who would not purchase with a bruise?
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
To expiate by a fine or forfeit.
Not tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
To apply to (anything) a device for obtaining a mechanical advantage; to get a purchase upon, or apply a purchase to; as, to purchase a cannon.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
To put forth effort to obtain anything; to strive; to exert one's self.
Duke John of Brabant purchased greatly that the Earl of Flanders should have his daughter in marriage.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
To acquire wealth or property.
Sure our lawyersWould not purchase half so fast.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
The act of seeking, getting, or obtaining anything.
I'll . . . get meat to have thee,Or lose my life in the purchase.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
The acquisition of title to, or properly in, anything for a price; buying for money or its equivalent.
It is foolish to lay out money in the purchase of repentance.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
That which is obtained, got, or acquired, in any manner, honestly or dishonestly; property; possession; acquisition.
We met with little purchase upon this coast, except two small vessels of Golconda.
A beauty-waning and distressed widow . . . Made prize and purchase of his lustful eye.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
Any mechanical hold, or advantage, applied to the raising or removing of heavy bodies, as by a lever, a tackle, capstan, and the like; also, the apparatus, tackle, or device by which the advantage is gained.
A politician, to do great things, looks for a power - what our workmen call a purchase.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
Acquisition of lands or tenements by other means than descent or inheritance, namely, by one's own act or agreement.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
the acquisition of something for payment;
they closed the purchase with a handshake
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
a means of exerting influence or gaining advantage;
he could get no purchase on the situation
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
the mechanical advantage gained by being in a position to use a lever
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction;
The family purchased a new car
The conglomerate acquired a new company
She buys for the big department store
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Purchase
To acquire by paying a cost or equivalent.
She purchased a new dress for the event.
Muazma Batool
Sep 15, 2023
Acquire vs. Purchase Frequently Asked Questions
Can you acquire something without buying it?
Yes, one can acquire things through means like inheritance, learning, or gifts.
Muneeza Rehman
Nov 14, 2023
Is every purchase an acquisition?
Yes, because you obtain possession through purchase.
Muazma Batool
Nov 14, 2023
Is there a difference between acquiring a company and purchasing a company?
In business lingo, acquiring often implies taking control, while purchasing stresses the transactional aspect.
Muneeza Rehman
Nov 14, 2023
Is purchasing only related to tangible items?
Primarily, but services can also be purchased.
Muazma Batool
Nov 14, 2023
Is acquiring always a slow process?
No, though some acquisitions are gradual, others can be immediate.
Jonathan
Nov 14, 2023
Can you acquire skills?
Yes, skills are often acquired over time through practice and experience.
William
Nov 14, 2023
Is purchase always about spending money?
Yes, purchasing typically involves a monetary transaction.
Muazma Batool
Nov 14, 2023
Can both acquire and purchase be used in business contexts?
Yes, but they may carry different implications based on the context.
Nolan
Nov 14, 2023
Does acquire have a monetary connotation?
Not necessarily, as acquisitions can happen without monetary transactions.
Muneeza Rehman
Nov 14, 2023
Can you purchase knowledge?
Not directly. While you can purchase educational resources, knowledge is typically acquired through study and experience.
Jonathan
Nov 14, 2023
Content Creators
Written by
Muneeza RehmanAt Comparisons.wiki, Muneeza skillfully navigates the vast sea of information, ensuring clarity and accuracy as the lead content editor. With a keen eye for detail, she curates every comparison to enlighten and engage readers.
Edited by
Muazma BatoolAs a content editor, Muazma Batool is not just a grammar guru but a creative mastermind who breathes life into every word. With an eagle eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she transforms bland text into engaging content that captivates audiences and drives results.
